ACTION Apartment Association

A New Years Glimpse Into Santa Monica’s Future

01/10/2022 9:49 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

SMa.r.t.

It’s a New Year, a make-or-break year for Santa Monica!! How much do you care about your city and it’s beachfront environment?? This future includes the development industry that now rules our state legislature, the governor, and our local Santa Monica governance – including our planning staff, planning commission, architectural review board, and the pro-development members of our city council! This article is the 1st of a 5 part series outlining the future of Santa Monica – a future dominated by our ever-growing corporate economy and it’s development industry.

Rents Drop in Santa Monica Again

01/10/2022 9:48 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Rents in Santa Monica dropped for the second straight month in December after posting gains through the first 10 months of 2021, according to Apartment List's latest monthly report.

The 2.8 percent decrease in December comes after rents dropped by 1.8 percent in November and reflects a nationwide trend that saw the "first measurable price decline since 2020," according to the report released last week.

Santa Monica is poised for a strange and significant 2022 election

01/08/2022 9:21 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At the local level a lot is also up in the air, including the question of whether Santa Monica will have at-large or district-based elections as a California Voting Rights Act lawsuit is still awaiting final judgment in the California Supreme Court.

Special Interests Fight Dirty to Maintain Control over Santa Monica Housing Commission

01/07/2022 10:49 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Some believe that the goal of Mayor Himmelrich and Councilmember Davis was to do anything within their power to keep Chair Buchanan on the Commission in order to control the agenda of the Housing Commission through her. Never mind the insufficient number of votes for her reappointment and a clear vote of no confidence from the community Ms. Buchanan had received.

Developer Proposes 521 Unit Apartment Tower For the Corner of Lincoln and Ocean Park Blvd

01/07/2022 10:29 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The owner of the Lincoln Center has proposed replacing the 1980's era parking lot and stores, with 521 residential units. The building would be 5 stories in height--around 65 feet. It would also contain 36,000 square feet of retain and restaurant space, 880 automobile parking spaces and 816 bicycle spaces.

City allocates $1 million for parks and public safety

01/06/2022 9:49 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The largest share of the funding — $439,300 — was allocated toward enhanced maintenance through the Department of Transportation’s Parking Operations Division. In other words, the city will spend it increasing the frequency of parking structure maintenance.

Pricey California Water Fines: Drought Rules Restrict Waste

01/05/2022 12:04 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Californians will face mandatory restrictions governing how they can water their lawns and wash their cars for the second time in less than a decade as the state withers under another drought.

The rules adopted Tuesday by the State Water Resources Control Board are fairly mild — no watering lawns for 48 hours after a rainstorm or letting sprinklers run onto the sidewalk— and could take effect as soon as the end of the month.

City staff lays out suggestions for controlling housing development under SB 9

01/05/2022 11:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

City staff are in the process of drafting local laws regulating SB 9 in Santa Monica, and on Dec. 29 Planning Manager Jing Yeo released a report with considerations for the new ordinance.

These considerations focus on tightening requirements for new construction under SB 9, limiting the ability to add additional dwelling units (ADUs) and junior additional dwelling units (JADUs) to newly constructed units, and deterring speculative investors.

Stand Up For Change

01/05/2022 11:55 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The lack of local control is a concern, and it’s certainly a component of the density and bad design. When the Legislature expanded the rules on development statewide it was in response to a perceived demand for housing. On a statewide level that’s possibly true, but I am seeing a lot of ‘For Rent’ signs in the city. I’ve heard that even San Francisco with its history of 99% occupancy is having an increase in vacancies.

Myth of Housing Supply Crisis Disintegrated

01/05/2022 11:51 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

With a series of deeply researched graphs, Verville explained to the nearly 60 participants in the virtual meeting how the supply of housing in California has easily kept up with population growth. In Santa Monica, the housing supply has actually exceeded population growth. There is, in fact, no supply crisis.